Carpet tufting machine



R. C. KLINE ETAL CARPET TUFTING MACHINE June 17, 1952 Filed Nov. 19,1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l N mm mm PQ mm NR. n m H m 2 (D INVENTORS. RICHARDC. KLINE. BY Mo JOSEPH MIL-LEE.

ATTORNEYS.

June 17, 1952 R. c. KLINE ET AL 2,500,993

CARPET TUFTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 2a 51 30z: $0 51 32 '15 Fiji 5@ 55 5 Li xy s 5 JNV NTORS. RICHARD C. LINE.

AND JOSEPH M: LLEE.

M D M June 1952 R. c. KLINE ETAL 2,600,993

CARPET TUFTING MACHINE Filed Nov.. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Shet s Fm .13 qb 1550 35 48 A I f 1 :5] 9 k 48 26 18 g INVENTORS.

' 45 RICHAEDCKLINE.

mo JOSEPHYM LLEZR.

ATTORNEYS.

June 17, 1952 R. c. KLINE ET AL CARPET TUFTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed NOV. 19, 1949 INVENTORS. RICHARD C.K1 Y AND JOSEPH M: 14.52. M

Patented June 17, 1952 rice 2,600,993 CARPET TUFTING MACHINE Richard 0.Kline, Mount Kisco, N. Y., and Joseph Miller, Asheville, N. 0.; saidMiller assignor to said Kline Application November 19, 1949, Serial No.128,314

4 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to carpet manufacture and more particularly tocarpet tufting devices and provides a portable, power driven tuftingmechanism which is especially adapted to the high speed production ofcarpets in special designs, configurations and dimensions. I Machinemade or loom woven carpets, such as Brussels, Axminster, Wilton, etc.including broadloom, can be produced only in particular Widths anddesigns for any given loom set-up, the design being thus duplicated fromcarpet to carpet. For producing carpets in unique designs, sizes andconfigurations for each carpet, such as Orientals, strictly hand weavingprocedures were originally employed. Morerece'ntly for the production oftufted carpets of unique designs, sizes and shapes, a manually operateddevice has been devised and employed, which consists of a pair of handgrips, usually wooden blocks, secured together in longitudinallyslidable relation to each other, there being mounted at one end of thesegrips respectively and projecting therefrom, one or more needles, and acorresponding number of steppers, which are longitudinally displaceablein reciprocatory fashion relative to eachother by reciprocatoryactuation of the hand grips in the opposite hands respectively of aworkman. To perform the tufting operation, the woolen or worsted yarnsto be tufted, are threaded through the needle holes, and the tuftingdevice thrust against the foundation fabric with the needles advancedrelative to the stoppers, the tufting being thereafter affected inSuccessive stitches by reciprocatory manipulation of the hand grips inthe manner aforesaid.

The manufacture of carpetswith a tufting device of this character is,like the ancient, strictly hand weaving procedures, necessarily arelatively slow, tedious and expensive procedure, and hence have provedcommercially feasible only where carpets of unique designs, shapes orwidths are insisted upon. Moreover, the resulting product depends inlarge measure on the skill and experience of the artisans, and even withthe best, the degree of uniformity of the stitching and end productvaries with the physical condition and attention of the workmenthroughout the day.

In accordance with our invention we have eliminated the above notedobjections of the manually actuated tufting device aforesaid, bydevising a power driven mechanism which simulates the operations of themanual device, but at much greater speed and uniformity of end product,and at greatly reduced cost of production and requisite skill or theworkmen,

The tufting mechanism of our invention comprises in its essentials andin its preferred embodiment, an elongated frame member having oppositelydisposed upstanding sidewalls pro: vided with longitudinally extendingupper and lower oppositely disposed pairs of parallel grooves or slotsin which are respectively mounted, needle and stepper thrust bars, whichare thus slidably displaceable longitudinally relative to each otheralong substantially parallel paths. The needle thrust bar mounts at oneend thereof, one or more needles the latter in laterally disposedrelation; while the stepper thrust bar, similarly mounts a correspondingnumber of stepper prongs. At the opposite end of the frame from theneedle and stepper mountings,there isj ournaled perpendicular to thedirection of thrust bar displacement, a drive shaft having keyed theretoa cam which is linked to the needle thrust bar by an eccentric arm which is pinconnected at one end eccentrically to the cam and at itsopposite end to the needle thrust bar, whereby as the drive shaft isrotated, the needle thrust bar is longitudinally reciprocated and withit the needle or needles mounted thereon. In addition the cam has formedtherein, an arouate cam slot portion which subtends and joins asubstantially rectilinear cam slot portion, such as to provide acontinuous cam slot of substantially D-shaped configuration. Journaledto the stepper thrust bar is a cam roll which engages and rides withinthe cam slot aforesaid, whereby as the drive shaft is rotated thestepperthrust bar and stoppers mounted thereon, are intermittentlyreciprocated in timed relation to the reciprocation of the needle thrustbar and needles. The eccentric arm pin-connection to the cam is sodisposed in relation to the rectilinear portion of the cam slot, thatthe stoppers are reciprocated in lagging relation to the needles, thestepper-s being substantially one-quarter of a cycle behind the needleswith respect to; their most withdrawn positions and such that theneedles are first pierced through the foundation fabric carrying thetuftin'g yarns with them, whereupon the stoppers are advanced throughthe fabric into substantial alinement with the needle holes whereuponthe needles are withdrawn preparatory to the next tufting stitch, whilethe steppers remain stationary to hold the yarn and form the tuft of theprevious stitch, the steppers being tl'lereuponv withdrawn while theneedles are advancing on the next stitch.

Having thus described the invention in general terms. reference will nowbe had for a more detailed description, to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, andFigure 3 a view in end elevation, as viewed from the left in Fig. 2, ofa preferred embodiment of the power driven tufting mechanism of theinvention; while Figure 4 is a transverse section thereof as taken at 44of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view, as viewed from below, illustratingthe construction and assembly on the needle thrust bar, of the needlesand yarn tensioning prongs associated therewith, while Figure 6 is alongitudinal section of Fig. 5, taken at 65 thereof.

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view, as viewed from above, illustratingthe construction of the stepper element and the assembly thereof on thestepper thrust bar; while Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 7as taken at 88 thereof.

Figures 9 to 13 inclusive are fragmentary plan views of the needle,stepper, cam and eccentric assemblies, and interlinking connections,illustrative of the relative positionings of these elements atsuccessive Stages of rotation of the eccentric and cam.

Figures 14 to 18 inclusive are longitudinal sections of the needle andstepper mechanisms, as taken at l4|4 to |8-l8 inclusive respectively ofFigures 9 to 13 inclusive, and illustrative of the manner in which thetufting of the yarn through the foundation fabric is accomplished by themechanism of the invention; while Figure 19 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the resulting carpet produced.

Figures 20 to 25 inclusive are diagrammatic showings, generally similarto Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, which further illustrate diagrammaticallythe principals of operation of the power driven tufting mechanism of theinvention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive for the constructional details ofthe apparatus, the tufter mechanism of the invention comprises a. metalframe 10, of narrow, elongated configuration at one end, Illa, and ofwidened table-like configuration at the opposite end, lllb. The narrowportion a has disposed along its opposite sides, upstanding sidewalls lI, [2, having machined therein oppositely disposed pairs oflongitudinally extending grooves I3, [4. Slidably positioned in theupper grooves l3, for reciprocatory displacement, as explained below, isthe needle supporting, thrust bar 15, on the forward or left hand end ofwhich is mounted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and more in detail in Figs.5 and 6, an assembly comprising series of three needles ll, l8, l9.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, these needles are mounted, in laterallycontiguous alinement, on the under side of the thrust bar l5, beingsecured thereto by screws, as at 20, passing through appropriatelydrilled apertures in the base portions 2| of the needles, and threadinginto the thrust bar l5. For additionally maintaining the needles IT, l8,[9 in rigid assembly and contiguous alinement, they are solderedtogether along the contiguous longitudinal edges of the base portions,by means of silver solder as at 22, 23. The needles comprise sheet metalstampings of tempered steel or equivalent, which are outwardly flaredfrom their points 24 toward the bases 2| thereof, and slightly back ofthe points the flared metal is bent at right angles in the mannerindicated at 24a, to provide reinforcement and. laterally spaced needlepoints of substantially constant width viewed in elevation, as at 25.Somewhat back of the point 24 each needle is pro- 4 vided with anelongated needle hole 26, for passage of the yarn therethrough in themanner shown at 21, Figs. 1 and 2. In order to impose an appropriatetensioning on the yarn, during operation of the mechanism, resilientprongs 28, Fig. 5, of a yarn tensioning stamping 29, extend along thegrooves between the sidewalls 24a, on the underside of the needles,these prongs being longitudinally adjustable in relation thereto bymeans of screws, such as 36 passing through elongated apertures as at 3!in the base portion 32 of the yarn tensioning stamping 29. By virtue ofthis construction and assembly, the effective apertures of the needleholes 26, may be adjusted in accordance with the diameter of the yarnemployed, by adjusting the tensioning bars 28 in greater or lesseroverlapping relation to the needle holes 26 in the manner indicated at35.

Slidably mounted in the lower grooves [4, Fig. 4, for reciprocatorydisplacement therealong, as explained below, is a stepper thrust bar 35,which projects beyond the frame ID, to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and2, on which end is mounted a stepper prong stamping 36. Referring to thedetailed showing of Figs. 7 and 8, the stamping 36 is secured to thestepper thrust bar 35 by means of screws as at 31 passing throughappropriate apertures in the stamping and threading into the thrust bar35. The stamping 36 is made of a resilient material, such as springsteel or equivalent, and has stamped therein, a series of three stepperprongs 31, which are laterally spaced corresponding to the needlespacings I! to l9, inclusive, these prongs being bent upwardly towardthe needles in the manner shown at 38, Figs. 2 and 8, for effectingstitching displacement as explained below, and having formed in theirouter ends, concave notches as at 39, adapted to receive and grip theyarn during the tufting operation, also as explained below.

Reverting to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, at the end opposite to that onwhich the needles and steppers are mounted, the frame I 0 issubstantially fiat and rectangular, as at lllb, and has journaledtherethrough, a shaft 4| to which is keyed as at 42 a substantiallyD-shaped cam 43, having milled in the lower surface thereof, a slot 44of substantially rectangular cross section as shown in Fig. 2, and whichextends about the periphery of the cam in an arcuately slotted portion,as indicated at 45, which subtends a substantially rectilinear slotportion 46, whereby the entire slot 45, 46, is of roughly D-shapedconfiguration corresponding to the outer contour of the cam.

Referring to Fig. 2 the cam 43 is spaced above frame portion l0b onshaft 4|, to provide space for the stepper thrust bar 35, to project tothe right beneath the cam slot 44, at which point the thrust bar hasjournaled thereto on an upstanding stud 41, a cam roll 48, which rideswithin the cam slot 44. In consequence, as shaft 41 is rotated, carryingwith it the cam 43, the stepper thrust bar 35 will be longitudinallydisplaced in accordance with the positioning determined by the cam slot44, and in the manner illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, forsuccessive degrees of angular rotation of shaft 4| as described indetail hereinafter.

To continue, however, with description of the constructional details ofthe apparatus, and still referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive inconnection. therewith, the needle thrust bar I5 has mounted at anintermediate point thereon an upstanding pin to which is journaled asleeve member 5| integral with an eccentric arm 52, which latter extendsto the right in Figs. v1 and 2 to the cam 43, and is eccentricallypin-connected thereto :by means of a screw 53 passing through a .bore'54 of the eccentric arm 52, and threading into the cam as at 55, Fig.2. The eccentric arm is in turn pivotally secured in position on theupstanding pin -50 by means of a screw 56 which threads into theupstanding pin 59, as at 58, Fig. 4.

For driving the shaft 4!, there is mounted on the underside of frameportion [0b, a housing 60, within which is mounted an electrical motor6!, the shaft 62 of which is geared to shaft 4| through speed reduction,intermeshing pinion gears 63. The housing 60 provides a trigger grip, asshown in Fig. 2, for supporting the rear end of the tu-fting mechanismin one hand, while the opposite end is supported in the opposite hand bymeans of a holding grip 64 secured to the opposite end portion Hla ofthe frame ID in the-manner shown in Fig. 2. The holding grip Bl! hasmounted in the angle portion thereof, a switcharm 66 which controlsthrough a switch 61 the connection of electrical power, supplied from asuitable source not shown, to the motor 6| for energizing the same. Inorder thus to energize the motor 6| it is required only to gripthe'housing 60 with sufficient force to depress switch 66, which uponrelease of the grip, is restored to the deenergizing position by meansof a tension spring 68 extending between the switch-arm 66 and a fixedsupport, as shown in Fig. 2.

Successive strands of yarn 10, for tufting the carpet foundation fabricH, are separately fed to the needles "-1 9 inclusive respectively,through upstanding eyelets 12 mounted upon a block 13 mounted at therear upon frame portion b, the yarn being fed thence through upstandingeyelets mounted upon the rear end of the eccentric arm 52, and thencethrough other upstanding eyelets 15 thereon, and thence throughadditional upstanding eyelets 76 mounted upon a plate I! bolted as at18, to the forward end of the frame walls I], I2, from whence the yarnstrands pass individually through the needle holes, as at 21.

In the tufting operation, the mechanism is held :2

against the foundation fabric H in the position illustrated in Figs. 1and 2, and in order to regulate the degree of penetration of the needleand stoppers through the fabric in accordance with the height of tuftingdesired, a wire guard is .3:

provided. This guard is preferably made of a single section of wire,bent into substantially inverted U-shaped configuration 8|, as viewed inend elevation, Fig. 3, with the ends of the wire bent substantially atright angles in the manner illustrated at 82, Figs. 1 and 2, these endsextending into appropriate holes 83, Fig. 2, of the frame it, and beingadjustably positionable therein by means of set screws, such as 84,tapped to the frame. In this way the upstanding portion 81 of the guardmay be longitudinally adjusted in relation to the frame It thereby, asstated, to regulate the extent of penetration of the needles andstoppers through the foundation fabric H.

As above explained in connection with Figs. 5 and 6, the yarn tensioningprongs 2B are adjusted in appropriate overlapping relation to the needleholes 2.6 to maintain suitable tension on the yarn as it is fed throughthe needle holes during the tufting operation. To further facilitatethis tensioning of the yarn, there is mounted between the upstandingeyelets I4, 15, on the eccentric arm 52 a brush-like tensioning device35, comprising a supporting frame 86, from the upper face of which aseries of wires 81 project,

being inclined as shown in Fig. 2, in the direction in which the .yarnis fed. Thus as the yarn tends to slip back, between stitches, it isgripped and held taut by the wires.

Having thus described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, theconstructional details of the carpet tufting mechanism in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operation thereof intufting a carpet foundation fabric will now be described with referenceto Figs. 9 to 25, inclusive. In these views Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, and20 to '25 inclusive, illustrate the manner in which the rotation of camas, as driven by shaft 42 from the motor M of Fig. 2, reciprocates theneedles such as IT, and stepper prongs 31 in appropriately timedrelation to each other. In these views but one needle I! and but oneassociated stepper 3! are shown for simplicity in explaining theprinciples of op eration. Since the needle thrust bar I5 is merelylinked eccentrically by the eccentric arm 52 to a point .55 on cam 43which is off center from the drive shaft 4|, the .rotation of cam 63will reciprocate the needle thrust bar l5 and with it the needle I l inaccordance with a simple harmonic motion mode of displacement. That isto say with the eccentric arm 52 in the position shown in Figs. ,9 and20, and with the direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow 96, theneedle I! is being advanced at its maximum speed of penetration throughthe carpet foundation fabric H. In the position shown in Fig. 10 theneedle 11 will have penetrated the fabric H to the maximum extent, andwill be momentarily at rest. In the position shown in Fig. ii the needleis being withdrawn from the fabric ii at its maximum speed; while in theposition shown in Fig. 12, the needle has been withdrawn to the maximumextent from the fabric, and is again momentarily at rest. In Fig. 13 theneedle is shown advancing on the next stitch, and in the position whereit is just penetrating the fabric H, while its speed of advance is beingaccelerated to the maximum speed of penetration above described withreference to Fig. 9, whereupon the cycle of operations described withreference to Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive is re eated on the next cycle, andso on.

Now considering the accompanying movements of the stepper 31 in relationto those of the needle #7, in the position shown in Figs. 9 and 20, thestepper is momentarily at rest, at its maximum position of withdrawalfrom the fabric. An in stant later when the cam 13 has advanced to theposition of Fig. 21, the cam roll 28 will have been displaced slightlyto the left of its initial position, the latter as shown at it-s,forced. traverse of the cam roll along the substantially rectilinearportion 46 of the cam slot. The stepper 50 will thus be displaced by acorresponding amount toward the fabric 7!. During this same interval theeccentric arm 52 will have been displaced from the position of Fig. 20to that of Fig. 21, since its pivotal point 55 on cam as has moved from550. to 55, thus to displace the needle IT to the left by substantiallythe distance 55a to 55, which it will be observed considerably exceedsthe distance its to it of accompanying displacement of the step er. Thatis to say at this juncture the needle is advancing much more rapidlytoward the fabric i: than is the stepper. As the cam d3 continues torotate in the direction indicated, the needle and stepper will continueto advance to the left, the needle at an ever decreasing rate and thestepper at an increasing rate, until the cam has reached the positionshown diagrammatically in Fig. 22, in which position the stepper hascaught up with the needle so to speak, both having penetrated the fabricsubstantially to their maximum extents.

Figure 22 shows at 9 l, 92 and 93, the successive positions of the camin its rotation from the position of Fig. through that of Fig. 21 tothat of Fig. 22, from which it will be observed,

that as the needle penetrates the fabric at a decelerating rate, thestepper is being displaced into the fabric at an accelerating rate, thelatter as indicated by the progressively increasing displacements 94, 95thereof. Thus, although in the position of Fig. 20 the needle ispenetrating the fabric with its maximum speed while the stepper is in astate of rest in its most fully retracted position, nevertheless, due tothe progressive deceleration of the advancing needle combined with theprogressive acceleration of the stepper in passing from the position ofFig. 20 through Fig. 21 to that of Fig. 22, the degree of penetration ofthe stepper will catch up with that of the needle, so that the two havepenc trated the fabric substantially to the same de gree when the camhas rotated slightly past the position of Fig. 22, namely into theposition of Fig. 10.

It will also be observed that with the cam in the position of Fig. 22,the cam roll 44 is almost at the point of passing out of the rectilinearportion 46 of the cam slot, and is on the point of passing into thearcuate portion 45 thereof, which it enters an instant later when thecam has rotated to the position of Fig. 10.

As the cam continues to rotate further from the position of Fig. 10, thestepper remains at rest at its maximum position of fabric penetration,so long as the cam roll 48 remains in the arcuate portion 45 of the camslot, since this arcuate portion being concentric with the drive shaft41, imparts no longitudinal displacement to the stepper thrust bar or tothe steppers 31. Meantime, however, as the cam rotates from the positionshown in Fig. 10 to the successive positions of Figs. 11 and '12, theneedle is being withdrawn from the fabric, while the stepper remains atrest at its maximum degree of fabric penetration. In passing from Fig.10 to Fig. 11, the rate of needle withdrawal is being accelerated, butis thereafter decelerated in passing from Fig. 11 to Fig. 12. In theposition of Fig. 12, the needle has been withdrawn to its maximum extentfrom the fabric, so that with further rotation of the cam, it will startto advance again on the next stitch in the manner illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 24. Also in the position shown in Fig. 24, itwill be observed that the cam roll 48 has reached the end of the arcuateportion of the portion 41 thereof, whereby the stepper is on the pointof being withdrawn from the fabric as the needle starts to advance onthe next stitch. In the position as shown in Fig. 13 and alsodiagrammatically in Fig. 25, the cam roll has entered the rectilinearportion 41 of the cam slot, whereby the stepper is being rapidlywithdrawn from the fabric as the needle is being rapidly advancedtherein on the next stitch.

It will be observed from the above explanation that whereas the needleis continuously reciprocated, the stepper is reciprocated intermittentlyin lagging relation to the needle, this being effected by eccentricallycoupling the needle to the cam at a point physically spaced from thecoupling of the stepper to the point on the cam nearest the axis ofrotation of the cam, as shown in Fig. 20 by the 90 angle designated bythe numeral 96.

The manner in which the relative displacements of the needle and stepperelements in the successive positions of Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, performthe tufting operation, is illustrated by the corresponding sectionalviews of Figs. 14 to 18 inclusive, respectively. Thus referring to Fig.14 and assuming that the mechanism has just formed the previous tuftI00, the point of the needle I! has penetrated fabric H on the nextstitching operation, carrying with it the yarn 70, the stepper 37 beingin the fully retracted position relative thereto, as shown, and being onthe point of advancing into the fabric as explained in connection withFig. 9.

In the position of Fig. 15, as explained with reference to Fig. 10, boththe needle I1 and stepper 31 have penetrated the fabric to their maximumextents, the needle carrying with it the yarn 10, to form the next tuftIOI, and the stepper being maintained stationary, to grip the yarn andprevent retraction of the tuft [0| as the needle is withdrawn. In theposition of Fig. 16, as was explained with reference to Fig. 11, theneedle is rapidly being withdrawn from the fabric while the stepperremains stationary, whereby the needle pulls the yarn taut over thepronged end 39 of the stationary stepper in the manner illustrated atI02.

In the position of Fig. 17, as was explained with reference to Fig. 12,the needle has been withdrawn to its maximum extent from the fabric,while the stepper still remains stationary as its maximum extent offabric penetration, so that the newly formed tuft is stretched over thestepper in the manner shown at I03. Meantime it should be pointed outthat as the needle is being withdrawn from the fabric in the mannerillustrated at Figs. 16 and 17, the stepper and yarn looped thereover,automatically displaces the needle upwardly as it clears the fabric bythe amount of the next stitch. This results from the fact that thestepper prong is resilient and is bent toward the needle point, so thatit tends to displace the needle point upwardly, and does so by virtue ofits resiliency and the yarn looped thereover, as soon as the needleclears the foundation fabric H, this action being indicated at I04, 104ain Fig. 1'7. Also in this same connection it should be noted that as theneedle penetrates the fabric the flanged sidewalls 24 thereof form anopening of progressively increasing dimension between adjacent strandsof the foundation fabric H, as illustrated at I05, Figs. 14 to 16inclusive, through which the stepper prong enters as shown, due to thefact that the stepper prong is bent toward the needle point. When,however, the needle is withdrawn the displaced strands of the basefabric spring back into position as shown in Fig. 1'7, to grip the newlyformed tuft I03, and also to cause the upwardly displaced needle pointto enter the fabric on its next penetration between other strands of thebase fabric, as at H16, Figs. 17 and 18, thus to displace the nexttufting stitch from the preceding one.

In the position shown in Fig. 18, as was explained with reference toFig. 13, the needle is again entering the fabric on the next stitch,having been displaced upwardly to this end in the manner aforesaid whilethe stepper is being rapidly withdrawn from the newly formed tuft I03.

Fig. 18 illustrates in perspective a portion of the tufted carpetproduced in the manner above described. The foundation fabric is againshown at H, the tufting on the upper surface of the carpet at I07 and onthe lower surface at I08, wherein it will be observed the yarn strandsof the tufting material are drawn lightly about the successive strandsof the base fabric H.

We claim:

1. In a tufting device for producing tufted carpets and the like: aplurality of tufting needles integrally joined in lateral alinement andeach having yarn-receiving holes therein; a thrust member, and meansmounting said needles thereon; a corresponding plurality of yarntensioning prongs mounted on said thrust member in longitudinalalinement with said needles respectively and each mounted with its freeend adjacent the hole in the needle corresponding thereto; and means foradjustably positioning said tensioning prongs longitudinally of saidneedles for adjusting the effective apertures of the needle holes.

2. In a tufting device for producing tufted carpets and the like: aneedle thrust bar and. a stepper thrust bar mounted in slidable relationto each other for longitudinal displacements thereof along substantiallyparallel paths; a plurality of tufting needles integrally joined inlateral alinement and having yarn-receiving holes therein, and meansmounting the same on said needle thrust bar; a corresponding pluralityof yarn-tensioning prongs and means adjustably mounting the same on saidneedle thrust bar in alinement respectively with said needles and withthe free ends thereof at said holes, for adjusting the effectiveapertures of the needle holes; a corresponding plurality of stepperprongs and means mounting the same on said stepper thrust bar, incoacting relation to said needles respectively.

3. In a tufting device for producing tufted carpets and the like; atufting needle having a yarn-receiving hole therein; a thrust member.and means mounting said needle thereon; a yarn tensioning prong mountedon said thrust member in longitudinal alinement with said needle andhaving its free end adjacent the hole in said needle; and means foradjustably positioning said tensioning prong longitudinally of saidneedle for adjusting the effective aperture of the needle hole.

4. In a tufting device for producing tufted carpets and the like: aneedle thrust bar and a stepper thrust bar mounted in slidable relationto each other for longitudinal displacements thereof along substantiallyparallel paths; 2. tufting needle having a yarn-receiving hole therein,and means mounting the same on said needle thrust bar; a yarn-tensioningprong and means adjustably mounting the same on said needle thrust barin alinement with said needle and with the free end adjacent said hole,for adjusting the effective aperture of the needle hole; a stepper prongand means mounting the same on said stepper thrust bar, in coactingrelation to said needle.

RICHARD C. KLINE. JOSEPH MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 604,759 Johnson May 31, 18981,265,430 Cohen May '7, 1918 1,557,970 Borrows et al Oct. 20, 19251,693,267 Berglind Nov. 27, 1928 1,917,162 Smith July 4, 1933 2,197,296Carver Apr. 16, 1940 2,365,013 Sharkey et a1 Dec. 12, 1944

